Roller hockey team falls in playoffs, looks forward to success next season

The event took place on March 2 and 3 at The Sportsplex arena in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania. The event hosted over 26 schools from all over the East Coast, all vying for the opportunity: to be crowned ECRHA Champion.

The playoff format for Baruch College’s division was an eight-team round robin with two four-team pools.

The best three teams from each pool would advance in subsequent matchups. Baruch’s 1-2 record was good enough for a third-place finish and a quarterfinal matchup against second-place-finishing Hofstra University.

This game was by far, the most intense and entertaining of the season. The Bearcats got on the board early in the first period, on a rebound goal by graduate student Taylor Bellina.

The Bearcats took the lead into the second period but three quick second-period goals by Hofstra saw them take control of the game.

The Bearcats bounced back with help from forward Daniel Glattman, junior, off a nifty early third-period goal from a
deflection.

His goal set up a great finish to the third period, where the Bearcats threw everything, but the kitchen sink at Hofstra’s goaltender and goalie of the year winner, Sam Reynolds.

The Bearcats could not slip another one past Reynolds, as the Pride won a close 3-2 game.

Millersville University would eventually take home the regional championship this year, in a 9-3 victory over St. Joseph’s.

Although the Bearcats did not come home with the big trophy, the team did take home some hardware.

Two players were up for awards. Bellina was a finalist for rookie of the year, while captain and sports writer for The Ticker Peter Lambrou, senior, was a finalist for player of the year, as well as team representative of the year.

Forward Kevin Spillane, senior, was also honored at the awards dinner.

He received a trophy from his victory in the shootout event during the All-Star Game festivities in Bethpage, New York.

Spillane beat out over 50 of the ECRHA’s best in an event challenging pure skill. His winning shot was a quick forehand fake, leading to a quick top shelf backhand.

Bellina lost to Millersville University’s Tyler Behr for best rookie.

At the same time, Lambrou was beat out as team representative of the year to fellow NYC student: Yeshiva University’s Joseph Robbin.

Lambrou did take home some hardware, as he was crowned 2017-18 player of the year, beating out St. Joseph College’s Captain Bobby Yevoli.

The team will look to continue to build on their very impressive season. A crop of veteran and young talent will return next seaso
n looking to bring the trophy home to Baruch.

Editor's note: Lambrou is the senior captain of the roller hockey team.